Monday, August 29, 2011

What American Idol can teach you about your job search

Do you ever get tired of hearing the judges on American Idol say "keep it real" or "be yourself?" As annoying as it may be, it's actually good advice in a lot of areas of life - including your job search.Many times, job seekers try to be something they're not in order to tell the employer what they think they want to hear. But, that approach more often than not backfires because it comes across as fake and disinterested. The best thing you can do is to truly be yourself. Below are some tips to help you do that.

Know your strengths. This may go without saying, but a lot of people don't do themselves justice. The more you know what your strengths are, the better you can communicate them to a potential employer.

Know how to sell yourself. Be sure you can clearly articulate what makes you the best candidate for the job using short, memorable phrases.

Practice. Look at yourself in a mirror to see how you come across in an interview or networking environment. Ask a friend to observe you and make suggestions.